Index for filing appliances



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INDEX FOR FILING APPLIANCES AFiled nay e, 192e 2 sheets-snee: 2

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Patented Nov. i9, 1929 tirarse sraras "PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM E. DUNNING7 OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE MCCASKEY REGISTER COMPANY, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO INDEX FOR FILING APPLIANCES Application filed May 8, 1928.

like having a plurality of spaced parallel ribs formed by Wires orthe like connected to the face of the leaf forming narrow compartments to receive strips of cardboard bearing the names of the various accounts carried 10 in the filing appliance or register.

These cards are arranged in alphabetical order upon the index leaf and it is, of course, necessary from time to time to add new cards to the index as new accounts are placed in the filing appliance.

These new index cards must be placed in alphabetical position upon the index leaf, and this frequently necessitates changing the position of a great many of the index cards in order to add one new one to the index.

The object of the present improvement is to provide an index which is flexible and by means of which a new index card may be quickly and easily placed in the proper position upon the index leaf with the movement vand repositioning of a minimum number of cards.

The above and .other objects may be attained by providing a plurality of channel strips upon the index leaf corresponding in number Vand position to the columns of the index; a plurality of card holders being mounted in said channels, each carrying a card or strip bearing the name of an account in the filing appliance.

These card holders are slidably mounted upon the channel stripsfand are easily and quickly removable or replaceable thereon, providing a very flexible index which may be readily changedto add new accounts.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front elevation of the improved index leaf;

Fig. 2, an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section through a portion of the leaf;

Fig. 3, a similar vertical sectional view thereof;

Serial No. 276,070.

Fig. 4, an enlarged perspective View of one of the card holders;

Fig. 5, a portion of one of the strips of cards;

Fig. 6, a detached elevation of one of the cards;

Fig. 7 a perspective view of the tool by means of which the card holders may be removed and replaced; and

Fig. 8, a front elevation of the tool show# ing a card holder gripped therein.

Similar numerals refer to similar throughout the drawings.

The index leaf may be provided with the frame l within which is mounted a plurality of channel strips 2, each having the channel portion 3 at each vertical edge. .These channel strips correspond in num ber and position to the .columns of the index. and in order to provide for a double faced in-l dex leaf, the channel strips may be located. back to back as best shown in Fig'. 2 and spot welded or otherwise attached together.

Each ofthe card holders for the index may comprise a flexible strip of spring steel or the like indicated at4 of a length sufficient to ex'- tend acrossone of the channel strips and to be engaged beneath the opposite channels 3 thereof.

Each of these card holders may be provided at each side of its vertical center, and at points spaced from its ends, with the card retaining flanges 5. These flanges are preferably substantially half-round in cross section, being curved inward over the front face of the strip 4L in order to retain the cardboard strip 6 upon whichthe name of the account perforated parts may be written or printed.

These cardboard strips or cards are preferably provided with the serrated edges 7 for the purposeof firmly holding the cards (in place within the holders.

As shown in Fig. 5, these cards or strips preferably come in sheets perforated as strip extends and is clamped around the end portions of the spring member 4 as shown in the drawings.

As shown in Fig. 1, the card holders are arranged in columns, located upon the channel strips 2, the ends .of the card holders being engaged in Vthe channels 8 at the sides of said strips.

The cards 6 are placed in the card holders inthe manner above described and the names of the various accounts are written or print ed upon the cards in alphabetical order as shown. The letters of the alphabet are preferably printed upon certain .cards to alphabetically divide the various sections of the index.

`When it is necessary to add a new name to the index, 4the same can .be accomplished with a minimum of time and labor. Assuming, for instance, that an account .is .opened by a party named Bryan, it will be seen that all of `the card holders reserved for accounts beginning with B are filled.

Glanc'ing over the index, it is seen .that the first unused .card holder is at .the end of the accounts beginning with G as indicated at 10. In order to vproperly place the new card 'in the index, the empty card holder 1'() is re moved .and a card placed therein with the name Bryan thereon.

The lowermost .card holder 1l inthe second column from the left is then removed and placed at the topk of the `third column, the other cardholders above the `one bearing the letter H having slidably moved down the distance of 4one holder when the card holder 10 was removed.

By removing the lowermost card holder 11 from .the second column all of the holders in this column will move 'downward in the same manner. The lowermost card holder 12 in the iirst column is then removed and placed lin the .space at ,the top of l.the second column and all of the card holders above the one hearin theletter C in the first column may ibe heli in their present position while the holder 10 nwith the name Bryan thereon is inserted in ,the space 4thus provided between the card holder bearing the name F. M. Brown and the -one bearing the letter (l.

The flcxibilityandease of operation of this `index will be ,appreciated when it is remembered that with the ordinary form of index .now in `common use, it would have been necessally' v,to remove levery card between the one hearing the name F. M. Brown in the first column and the card .bearing the letter H in the third column.

Each of these cards would .then have to be replaced in the next compartment in order to complete the change.

For ,the purpose .of facilitating the removingand replacing-of the card holders, the tool ,shownin Figs. 7 and 8 may be provided.

This tool may be .provided with the angularly disposed handle 14 to which is connected the shank 15 having the reduced fiattened end 16 adapted to be inserted beneath the central portion of the card holder to be picked up thereby. The bifurcated arms 17 are pivotally connected to the shank 15 as at lSand provided with the rearwardly disposed operating lever 19.

These arms are provided with the depending end portions 2O for engagement with the top or front surface lof `the 4card holder near opposite ends, and a spring 21 may be provided for normally holding the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 7.

in order to remove a card holder from the index, Athe reduced end 16 of the shank is inserted beneath the central portion of the `card holder and the lever 19 and handle 14 are pressed toward reach other, moving the bi- .fin-cated arms 17 downward into contact with ,the surface .of .the cardholder near its ends, and raising ythe shank `15., flexing the card holder in the manner shown in Fig. 8.

rl'he end portions of .the card holder are thus drawn out 'of lengagement with the channeis 3 of the channel strip, permitting the holder to be removed.

Vhen `a card holder is to be inserted in `the index, it is placed in the tool in the position shown in Fig. 8, and then moved to the desired A.position in `the Aindex when the lever 1.9 `may be slowly released, permitting the spring 21tr) move .the parts hack to the normal position.

With this operation of Athe tool, the card holder resumes its normal straight or flat position., the ends thereof being engaged in .the .channel portions ,3. AThe tool ymay then be .removed without disturbing the card holder.

It will .be obvious from the above description and the accompanying drawings that an index is provided .which may be quickly and easily changed as desired with the movement ofa very few cards, ordinarily not more than two cards in each column to he changed heing moved in order to make room for a new card in the index.

l claim:

1. An index'leaf provided with spaced rows of channels, and a plurality of card holders upon said index leaf, each card holder comprising a fiexible metal strip having its end portions slidab-ly Vengaged in said channels, land card retaining members carried hy and extended around said liexihle strip at each side of the Vvertical 4center thereof.

2. An index leaf provided with a plurality of spaced channels, and card holders slid ably located in said channels, each card holder comprising a spring strip and l.a pair of spaced card retaining'members havinglcurved flanges extending `around and located over opposite `edges of the spring strip.

3. An index leaf provided with spaced ,rows

of channels, and a plurality of card holders upon said index leaf, each card holder comprising a flexible metal strip having its end portions slidably engaged in said channels, and card retaining members carried by said flexible strip at each side of the vertical center thereof, said card retaining members comprising channel strips extended and clamped around the flexible strip and spaced from the ends of the strip.

4. An index leaf provided With spaced rows of channels, and a plurality of card holders upon said index leaf, each card holder comprising a flexible metal strip having its end portions slidably engaged in' said channels, and channel card retaining strips clamped around said flexible strip, said channel strips being spaced from each other whereby means may be inserted between adjacent card holders and under each card holder for removing a card holder from the index leaf channels.

5. A card holder including a flexible metal strip and spaced card retaining members carried by said flexible strip, said card retaining members comprising channel strips extended and clamped around said flexible strip.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILLIAM E. DUNNING. 

